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Comments (32)

The Color of Water

a Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother
Community comments are the opinions of contributing users. These comments do not represent the opinions of Pima County Public Library.
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1 to 25 of 32 items
Dec 15, 2023LenRudner rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
Uneven, but ultimately rewarding.
Nov 16, 2023Candaceb108 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Lots of people below have reviewed this book. All I can add is: It's wonderful.
Jul 01, 2023mlhadley1 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Pam from book club recommended Could feel the strength of this Jewish woman who wasn't loved by her family and found love by a wonderful black man. How her family more than disowned her, the preformed the rite of death on her so she was…
Mar 05, 2023peacebenow rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
McBride tells the story of his secretive white mother in an enlightening, endearing manner. His mother married a Black man when not socially accepted by most. She raised 12 very successful children and had 2 husbands. Their family remains…
Aug 19, 2021NANCY ELIZABETH WHITLATCH rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This was such a poignant memoir. The title has a significant meaning. When asked what color God was, James McBride's mother responds by telling him God is the color of water. That is so profound. I thought that described God very well. In…
Jun 11, 2021IndyPL_TheresaC rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This is a beautiful story and tribute to the writer’s mother, Ruth McBride Jordan. McBride tells a powerful story of Ruth as a young polish immigrant living in America with her mother, disabled from polio, and her father, an Orthodox…
Dec 12, 2020tk607 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
What a shame that it took me so long to discover James McBride and his writing. I enjoyed Deacon King Kong, but this book, The Color of Water spoke to my heart.
Nov 17, 2020
Excellent
Oct 06, 2020chaparalak rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
The Color of Water, by James McBride, is a true story about the author’s childhood and his mother’s life as a white mother with twelve colored children. Each chapter in the novel shifts between James telling the story of his childhood and…
Sep 11, 2020Peggy Hendry rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
The New York Times ran an excerpt from Deacon King Kong, and I had to read the whole book immediately. I'd never heard of James McBride before that, and now I am binge-reading all his books. The Color of Water has an interesting…
Aug 04, 2020fldamato rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
Living in the south where we no longer have signs on water as black or white. I say the color of water is clear. His Mom brought up a great son
Mar 07, 2020neyoscribbles rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
An insightful glimpse into what it was to be Ruth, the author’s mother who was born a Jewish woman but converted into Christianity. Religion and race aside, Ruth’s sheer determination to succeed in life regardless of all the obstacles she…
Feb 05, 2019MB85CAL rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Outstanding. Simply at once touching, humorous, moving masterpiece of writing. A must read, definitely. Once you start reading this memoir, you cannot put it down. Highly recommend.
Aug 04, 2018redoute rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This is an important and timeless book. I am grateful that the author and his mother were willing to share their stories with the world. There are more and more biracial/multiracial individuals in this country. Many of them could profit…
Nov 15, 2016CMLibrary_KimUC rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
McBride’s revealing memoir also uncovers the remarkable story of his mother, Ruth. Through weaving the story of his childhood with that of his mother’s narrative, McBride offers an inspiring and uplifting tribute to his family as well as…
Nov 01, 2016sess430 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
A loving and well written book, part biography and part memoir as the chapters alternate between the author's life growing up in Brooklyn's Red Hook housing project and the recounting of his mother's life in Suffolk, Virginia as the…
Jul 27, 2016JanPruatt rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
James McBride -- where have you been? Sorry I never read this book earlier. It is truly a classic.
May 04, 2016
An amazing book. Not only is it very well written, but the true story is fascinating: a Jewish white mother who will not admit she is white. Because of the so-called dysfunctional situation being infused with so much love, the children…
Mar 06, 2016gingerreads rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
A true story about a selfless and gutsy woman who sees everyone through the same lens regardless of race or religion. Her life was not an easy one.
Mar 20, 2015ehbooklover rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
An interesting and eye-opening read. My only issue with the book is that I found that it was hit and miss in terms of keeping my interest: the mother's story was much more interesting than that of the author's.
Dec 09, 2014WVMLStaffPicks rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
An inspiring, unforgettable unfolding of two lives: the author's mother's -- a woman of remarkable strength who flees the South and her Orthodox Jewish family and co-founds a Baptist church in Harlem with her black husband, and McBride's…
Nov 08, 2014huy1993 rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
This book is not only about a piece of Tobias Wolff's childhood, but it also connects to our own childhood. The book emphasizes our struggle to find our own identity and our inability to make a decision.
Young Love
Jul 29, 2014
When I saw this book was a biography I thought it would be boring and just with non personal information, but then I read it. This book was amazing it was so personal and the writing style allowed you to really see and feel what the author…
Sep 30, 2013Ellington4 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This extraordinary book, about a remarkable family and an indomitable mother, is written with grace, humor and above all love. The black author has written a tribute to his white Jewish mother, who married two fine black men and raised 12…
JINGNA_1
Aug 01, 2013
Interesting book!